Math, reading retests available for some grades

Certain students will be allowed to retake the math and reading sections of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests this summer, and the state will count the highest score, Eloise Barron said Monday at the Hall County School Board meeting.

Barron, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said third-grade students will be able to retest in reading, and students in fifth and eighth grades will be able to retest in both math and reading.

The Georgia Department of Education said it would automatically take the highest score.

"That could help us make (adequate yearly progress)," Barron said. " We have so many kids that were within 10 points of passing the math that we think there’s a good chance we will be able to pull some of those students over."

Enrollment in summer school is nearly double what it was last year. The retest can only be taken once, and summer school retests will be given for math on June 19 and reading on June 20. Tests following special education summer school will be offered from July 14 to 18.

"We’re extremely disappointed in what we see in those results. We’re very reluctant to put any of that blame on the shoulders of our students or of our teachers," Superintendent Will Schofield said. "We think there’s some real challenges with those new tests in grades three, four, five and eight. ... The state has some questions to answer."

The board also approved a number of sales tax money requests for repairs at area high schools, including renovating an old weight room at West Hall High School into a classroom and storage; renovating an old field house/physical education building at Johnson High School and installing air conditioning in kitchens at Johnson High School and Sardis Elementary School.